Fruit-jar clamp



(No Model.) I

H. U. D ILWORTH.

FRUIT JAR GLAMP.

No. 539,6 74'.- Patented May 21, 1895.

Fig.3

WITNESSEfS: I I I-IVENTOH M Y .M v

- ATTORNEY.

FFICE- HENRY O. DILWORTH, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

FRUIT-JAR CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,674, dated May 21,1895:

Application filed November 5, 1894. Serial No. 527,959. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

fruit jar clamps such as are used in holding caps to the tops of fruitjars.

The object of my invention is to producea simple, cheap and strongdevice, which may be instantly applied to or removed from a fruit jarand cap, which can be adjusted so as to make a water-tight seal enablingthe fruit jar to be held submerged when necessary without permittingwater to run into it, which, however, has a yielding fastening devicewhich permits the gas or steam generated in the jar to escape beneaththe cap, and which when desired may be quickly adjusted so as to bindthe cap rigidlyin place and make a hermetical seal.

To these ends my invention consists of certain features of constructionand combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described andclaimed.

Reference. is to be'had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved clamp as applied to afruit-jar, the clamp being shown in a locked position. Fig. 2 is a planview of the same, and Fig. 3 is 'a'broken plan view showing thearrangement of the sealing-spring and the cushion for the same.

The clamp is provided with a main clam ping piece or strap B which is ofa generally inverted U-shape and is adapted to fit over the top of afruit jar, the clamping piece having inturned flanges M at its ends,which flanges are adapted to fit beneath the rim L on the jar J, thisrim being found on all ordinary fruit jars. It is well to have the innerends of the flanges shaped to fit snugly against the neck of the jar.

The clamping piece, when placed in position, is adapted to extendtransversely across the cap 0, which is of the usual kind, and rests onthe ordinary gasket P.

On the under side of the clamping piece is a flat spring G, one end ofwhich is fastened to the clamping piece, and the spring is curveddownward and is provided at the center and on the under sidewith acushion K which comes between the spring and the cap 0, and so preventsthe spring from contacting with the cap and splintering orotherwiseinjuring the same.

The clamping pieceB is slotted in the center, as shown at S to providefor the movement of the locking lever A, and at the sides of the slotare lugs H which are preferably formed by turning up the metalcomprising the clamping piece B, these lugs having pivoted to them, by apin F, the cam leverA which is preferably struck up from sheet metal,al-

way, and the cams a of this lever are adapted to bind on the spring Gdirectly above the cushion K. The outer end of the cam lever A is bentdown slightly,'as shown at a, so as to fit over the end of the clampingpiece B, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

When the clamp is to be used, the cam lever A is turned over to theposition shown by dotted lines at A in Fig. 1, thus releasing the camsfrom engagement with the spring G and the clamp is slipped on sidewiseto the top of the jar, so that the spring G pressing downward on the cap0 holds the cap in place with sufficient pressure to prevent water fromrunning into the jar and so injuring its contents, thus enabling the jarto be submerged if desired, so that the contents may be cooked orotherwise treated. If however, gas or vapor is generated in the jar, thepressure from within is sufficient to lift the cap 0 slightly againstthe tension of the spring G, so that the gas or vapor may escape withoutbreaking the jar, and when the contents have cooled and there is no fearof extreme pressure within, the cam lever A is turned over to thepothough it may be formed in any approved spring fastened at one end tothe clamping piece and loose at the other and adapted to exert pressureupon the jar cap, and means carried by the clamping piece for engagingthe said spring, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a fruit jar clamp, comprisinga clamping piece shaped to fit over the top of a fruit jar, a springsecured to the clamping piece, and adapted to exert pressure on the topof the jar cover, and a cam lever carried bythe clamping piece andadapted to engage the said spring, substantially as described.

3. A fruit jar clamp, comprising a clamping above the said cushion,substantially as described.

HENRY O. DILWORTI'I. Witnesses:

J AS. A. B. DILWORTH, FRANK T. DILWORTH.

